ANNEXES such responsibilities, aimed at improving their political, policy-making and public administration skills. The Committee also recommends that: 46. States parties include in their periodic reports, in an appropriate form, data about the Roma communities within their jurisdiction, including statistical data about Roma participation in political life and about their economic, social and cultural situation, including from a gender perspective, and information about the implementation of this general recommendation. 47. Intergovernmental organizations, in their projects of cooperation and assistance to the various States parties, as appro- priate, address the situation of Roma communities and favour their economic, social and cultural advancement. 48. The High Commissioner for Human Rights consider establishing a focal point for Roma issues within the Office of the High Commissioner. The Committee further recommends that: 49. The World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance give due consideration to the above recommendations, taking into account the place of the Roma communities among those most disadvantaged and most subject to discrimination in the contemporary world. ANNEXE V: Full texts of the statements adopted by CERD Statement on the human rights of the Kurdish people (54th session, 1999) The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is profoundly alarmed about widespread and systematic violations of human rights inflicted on people because of their ethnic or national origin. Ethnic antagonisms, especially when mixed with political opposition, give rise to many forms of violent conflict, including terrorist actions and military operations. In many parts of the world they cause immense suffering, including the loss of many lives, the destruction of cultural heritage and the massive displacement of populations. In this context, the Committee expresses its concern about acts and policies of suppression of the fundamental rights and the identity of the Kurds as distinct people. The Committee stresses that the Kurdish people, wherever they live, should be able to lead their lives in dignity, to preserve their culture and to enjoy, wherever appropriate, a high degree of autonomy. The Committee appeals to the competent organs of the United Nations and to all authorities and organizations working for peace, justice and human rights to deploy all necessary efforts in order to achieve peaceful solutions which do justice to the fundamental human rights and freedoms of the Kurdish people. Statement on Africa (55th session, 1999) The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Extremely concerned over the growing ethnic conflicts and the inadequacy of attempts to prevent and mitigate them in the Great Lakes region and certain other parts of Africa, Reiterating its recent decisions, declarations and concluding observations, such as decision 3 (49) of 22 August 1996 on Liberia, resolution 1 (49) of 7 August 1996 on Burundi, decisions 3 (51) of 20 August 1997, 1 (52) of 19 March 1998, and 4 (53) of 18 August 1998 on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the declaration of 13 March 1996 on Rwanda, the con- cluding observations on Rwanda of 20 March 1997, the concluding observations on Burundi of 21 August 1997, decisions 4 (52) of 20 March 1998, 5 (53) of 19 August 1998 and 3 (54) of 19 March 1999 on Rwanda, decision 5 (54) of 19 March 1999 on the Sudan, which were the results of the Committee s consideration of the ethnic conflicts in these States Parties under its early warning and urgent action procedures within the context of the Convention, Aware of the important initiatives undertaken recently by the Organization of African Unity which has also proposed taking urgent measures in order to cope with the tragic situation in Central Africa, and expressing its appreciation for the significant mediating efforts by the heads of State of four African countries at their meeting in South Africa on 8 August 1999, reflected in a solemn declaration with a view to overcoming current crises and ethnic conflicts, Expressing its appreciation to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for his report on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa (A/52/871-S/1998/318, dated 13 April 1998), presented to the General Assembly and the Security Council, in which he stated that among the warring parties and factions the main aim, increasingly, is the destruction not just of armies but of civilians and entire ethnic groups , and suggested specific measures inter alia, to promote peacemaking, harmonizing the policies and actions of external actors, mobilizing international support for peace efforts, improving the effectiveness of sanctions and enhancing the role of United Nations peacekeeping in Africa, Expressing its appreciation to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights for her recent and important initiatives directly related to ethnic conflicts in Africa, mentioned above, and its full support for the High Commissioner s actions, 1. Expresses its alarm at the growing mass and flagrant violations of human rights of the peoples and ethnic communities in ICERD: A GUIDE FOR NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 37